In a dialogue with Souleymane Bachir Diagne

In celebration of his 25th anniversary at Columbia University, Pierre Force reflects on his personal and intellectual trajectory, his time at Columbia, and changes in French Studies and the Humanities over the past quarter century. Joining him in dialogue for this event is his colleague and friend since their student days at the ENS, Souleymane Bachir Diagne.

Pierre Force was a fellow at the École Normale Supérieure and received his doctorate and habilitation from the Sorbonne. He joined the Columbia faculty in 1987, where he is Professor of French and History, and since July 2011, Dean for Humanities in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences. His field of research is 17th and 18th century literature and intellectual history. Pierre Force is the author of Le Problème herméneutique chez Pascal, Molière ou Le Prix des choses, and Self-Interest before Adam Smith. His distinctions include the Columbia Distinguished Faculty award and a Guggenheim fellowship.